NEW YORK – A cross-country trip to take on national power Duke showed UCLA only that it has more work to do beyond feasting on its share of cupcakes.

Freshman star Jabari Parker again lived up to the hype and the No. 8 Blue Devils opened up a cushion early in the second half and went on to an 80-63 victory over the Bruins on Thursday night in the Carquest Auto Parts Classic at Madison Square Garden.

The Bruins (9-2) have dropped two opportunities to make an early-season statement, also falling, 80-71, at Missouri 12 days ago. This one saw them struggle offensively and defensively against the national power after a promising first half.

Turnovers did them in, with 10 of their 13 coming after halftime. The Blue Devils turned those miscues in 13 points. Quinn Cook had all eight of Duke’s steals to go with his 14 points.

“They were just glaring,” UCLA coach Steve Alford said. “They were turnovers that led to baskets. Sometimes coaches talk about good turnovers and bad turnovers. Our turnovers, it seemed like, were bad.”

And they got their first, and possibly only, close-up look at the 6-foot-8 Parker, who enjoyed the bright lights on one of college basketball’s great stages.

Parker paced Duke and showed off his versatile skills with a game-high 23 points. It was his ninth 20-point effort in his first 11 college games against a slate that also included Kansas, Alabama, Arizona and Michigan.

“I have to show up for my team in order for us to do well,” said Parker, the likely one-and-done, potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick next spring. “Those are the games that are going to make and mold me as a player.”

UCLA did well to erase an early 10-point deficit and forge a 37-37 tie by halftime but Duke used a 10-2 run to open a 61-49 lead with 11:33 left. The Bruins never got closer than eight after that.

David Wear led UCLA with 16 points while New Jersey native Kyle Anderson had 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in his homecoming.

The Bruins said they’ll be able to grow from their tests against Missouri and Duke, beginning with their home game Sunday against Weber State. An upcoming visit by Alabama to Pauley Pavilion will serve as another measuring stick.

“We missed out on two great opportunities to really prove ourselves as a team,” Anderson said. “But we got a game on Sunday. We got one more in Alabama and then we’re in conference.

“The only thing we can do is just learn from it and get better. Look forward to the next day.”

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